US4267416A - Contact arrangement for vacuum switch - Google Patents

Contact arrangement for vacuum switch Download PDF

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Publication number
US4267416A
US4267416A US05/928,689 US92868978A US4267416A US 4267416 A US4267416 A US 4267416A US 92868978 A US92868978 A US 92868978A US 4267416 A US4267416 A US 4267416A
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Prior art keywords
revolution
contact
slots
hollow
contacts
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US05/928,689
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Irmo Paulus
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Siemens AG
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Siemens AG
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H33/00—High-tension or heavy-current switches with arc-extinguishing or arc-preventing means
    • H01H33/60—Switches wherein the means for extinguishing or preventing the arc do not include separate means for obtaining or increasing flow of arc-extinguishing fluid
    • H01H33/66—Vacuum switches
    • H01H33/664—Contacts; Arc-extinguishing means, e.g. arcing rings
    • H01H33/6642—Contacts; Arc-extinguishing means, e.g. arcing rings having cup-shaped contacts, the cylindrical wall of which being provided with inclined slits to form a coil

Definitions

  • This invention relates to contact arrangements for vacuum switches with contacts which are movable relative to each other in general and more particularly to an improved contact arrangement.
  • the interruption process in vacuum switch gear is initiated by the separation of cooperating contacts at which time a metal vapor arc is produced.
  • the shape of the contacts which are movable relative to each other is selected so that the intrinsic magnetic forces of the current to be interrupted form a force component in the azimuthal direction which sets the arc in a rotating motion so that the burn off of the contacts is limited. In the known contacts, this is accomplished by special running surfaces for the arc, which surface may form, at the same time, the seating surfaces of the contacts.
  • the running surfaces for the arc may also surround the contact surfaces themselves and may be provided with slots so that the current paths in the contacts follow a predetermined direction. In order for the arc bases to rotate on the running surfaces, the slots generally have an approximately spiral shape relative to the axis of rotation of the contacts. However, such slots are difficult to produce.
  • the annular rim of the cup shaped contacts form the seating surfaces of the contacts.
  • the outer surface of the hollow cylindrical cup is provided with slots which run in the radial direction and are inclined to the axis of revolution of the contact.
  • the rim of the cup is not provided with slots, so that the seating surfaces of the contacts consist of a solid annular part.
  • the bottom of the cup which extends parallel to the seating surface, forms a sharp corner with the cylinder surface. In such cup contacts, the base of the arc can travel from the seating surface at the rim of the cup to the bottom of the cup and dwell there. The result is increased burn off of the contact material at these parts of the contact. (German Auslegeschrift 1 196 751).
  • braces The annular parts of such contacts for vacuum switches adjacent to the seating surfaces have also been provided with slots and the ring has been connected to the current leads with braces. These braces then have a conical shape. Since they are not slotted, they disturb the component of the azimuthally directed magnetic force. In addition, the fabrication of this contach is relatively difficult and its mechanical strength is limited by the braces.
  • this problem is solved with a contact part, connecting the contact seat to an electrical conductor, which forms a body of revolution, which is provided with slots inclined with respect to the axis of revolution and the inside surface of which is shaped so as to drive the base of the arc toward the annular seat.
  • the body of revolution can be designed in the shape of a hollow sperical section, or that of a hollow cone, provided with slots inclined with respect to the axis of the cone.
  • One embodiment, for instance is a truncated hollow cone, the inside terminal surface of which is formed by the end face of a connecting conductor.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of one embodiment of a contact arrangement.
  • FIG. 2 is a view looking into a hollow cone according to FIG. 1.
  • the outside surface of a truncated hollow cone 2 with a thickness a of at least a few millimeters, e.g., 5 mm, is provided with slots 4, all of which extend substantially in the radial direction and are inclined with respect to the axis of revolution 6 of the cone.
  • the surface 2 of the cone forms a truncated cone; the inner terminating surface is formed by the end face of a current lead 8.
  • the inner terminating surface of the truncated cone i.e., the exposed part of the end face of current lead 8 can preferably be provided with an inset 10 of a material with low vapor pressure, e.g., molybdenum or tungsten.
  • the cone surface 2 At its exposed, open end, the cone surface 2 is provided with an annular contact seat 12, which forms the seating surface of the contact. For reasons of increased strength of the contact, this annular contact seat 12 will generally not be slotted.
  • the seat 12 may also form part of the cone surface 2 and be fabricated integrally with the latter as a body of revolution.
  • a contact 14 structured in the said manner is arranged coaxially with the first contact in such a manner that the contact seating surface of its annular seat faces toward the annular seat 12.
  • the angle of the slots 16 can preferably be chosen so that the slots 14 and 16 are arranged in a mirror image relationship to each other in the operating position shown. They thereby form force components of the intrinsic magnetic fields which have azimuthal directions with respect to the annular seats 12 and 18 and which are opposed to each other, so that the arc bases rotate on the contact seating surfaces in opposite directions.
  • the individual slots 4 run in the shape of a spiral. They start at the terminating plate 10 of the cone surface 2 and terminate at the annular seat 12, so that the seating surface of the contact visible in the figure forms a closed, unslotted ring.

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  • High-Tension Arc-Extinguishing Switches Without Spraying Means (AREA)

Abstract

A contact arrangement for a vacuum switch having contacts movable relative to each other containing slots and provided with an annular seat in which the contact part connecting the contact seat to an electrical conductor forms a hollow body of revolution, the outer surface of which is provided with slots inclined with respect the axis of revolution and the inside surface of which is shaped so as to drive the base of the arc toward the annular seat.

Description

This is a continuation, of application Ser. No. 778,266 filed Mar. 16, 1977 now abandoned.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to contact arrangements for vacuum switches with contacts which are movable relative to each other in general and more particularly to an improved contact arrangement.
The interruption process in vacuum switch gear is initiated by the separation of cooperating contacts at which time a metal vapor arc is produced. The shape of the contacts which are movable relative to each other is selected so that the intrinsic magnetic forces of the current to be interrupted form a force component in the azimuthal direction which sets the arc in a rotating motion so that the burn off of the contacts is limited. In the known contacts, this is accomplished by special running surfaces for the arc, which surface may form, at the same time, the seating surfaces of the contacts. The running surfaces for the arc may also surround the contact surfaces themselves and may be provided with slots so that the current paths in the contacts follow a predetermined direction. In order for the arc bases to rotate on the running surfaces, the slots generally have an approximately spiral shape relative to the axis of rotation of the contacts. However, such slots are difficult to produce.
Contact arrangements for vacuum switches which have cup shaped contacts are also known. The annular rim of the cup shaped contacts form the seating surfaces of the contacts. The outer surface of the hollow cylindrical cup is provided with slots which run in the radial direction and are inclined to the axis of revolution of the contact. In one particular embodiment of the contact, the rim of the cup is not provided with slots, so that the seating surfaces of the contacts consist of a solid annular part. The bottom of the cup which extends parallel to the seating surface, forms a sharp corner with the cylinder surface. In such cup contacts, the base of the arc can travel from the seating surface at the rim of the cup to the bottom of the cup and dwell there. The result is increased burn off of the contact material at these parts of the contact. (German Auslegeschrift 1 196 751).
The annular parts of such contacts for vacuum switches adjacent to the seating surfaces have also been provided with slots and the ring has been connected to the current leads with braces. These braces then have a conical shape. Since they are not slotted, they disturb the component of the azimuthally directed magnetic force. In addition, the fabrication of this contach is relatively difficult and its mechanical strength is limited by the braces. (Cf. Ueber die Elecktrodenerosion beim Schalten grosser Wechselstroeme im Hochvakuum (On the electrode erosion in switching large a-c currents in a high vacuum); Dissertation by F. C. Althoff, Technical University Braunschweig, 1970).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a contact arrangement for vacuum switches in which the base of the arc is kept in rotating motion by the intrinsic magnetic forces at the seating surface.
According to the present invention, this problem is solved with a contact part, connecting the contact seat to an electrical conductor, which forms a body of revolution, which is provided with slots inclined with respect to the axis of revolution and the inside surface of which is shaped so as to drive the base of the arc toward the annular seat. The body of revolution can be designed in the shape of a hollow sperical section, or that of a hollow cone, provided with slots inclined with respect to the axis of the cone. One embodiment, for instance, is a truncated hollow cone, the inside terminal surface of which is formed by the end face of a connecting conductor. Through this design, the base of an arc which has left the annular seat, is driven back to the latter, so that it cannot burn at a corner. The intrinsic magnetic forces of the current in the parts of the surface formed by the slots make the base of the arc rotate at the annular seating surface.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of one embodiment of a contact arrangement.
FIG. 2 is a view looking into a hollow cone according to FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As shown in FIG. 1, the outside surface of a truncated hollow cone 2 with a thickness a of at least a few millimeters, e.g., 5 mm, is provided with slots 4, all of which extend substantially in the radial direction and are inclined with respect to the axis of revolution 6 of the cone. The surface 2 of the cone forms a truncated cone; the inner terminating surface is formed by the end face of a current lead 8. The inner terminating surface of the truncated cone, i.e., the exposed part of the end face of current lead 8, can preferably be provided with an inset 10 of a material with low vapor pressure, e.g., molybdenum or tungsten. The current lead 8 as well as the cone surface 2, on the other hand, generally will consist of copper. At its exposed, open end, the cone surface 2 is provided with an annular contact seat 12, which forms the seating surface of the contact. For reasons of increased strength of the contact, this annular contact seat 12 will generally not be slotted. The seat 12 may also form part of the cone surface 2 and be fabricated integrally with the latter as a body of revolution.
A contact 14 structured in the said manner is arranged coaxially with the first contact in such a manner that the contact seating surface of its annular seat faces toward the annular seat 12. In the contact 14, the angle of the slots 16 can preferably be chosen so that the slots 14 and 16 are arranged in a mirror image relationship to each other in the operating position shown. They thereby form force components of the intrinsic magnetic fields which have azimuthal directions with respect to the annular seats 12 and 18 and which are opposed to each other, so that the arc bases rotate on the contact seating surfaces in opposite directions.
In the top view of FIG. 2, it can be seen that the individual slots 4 run in the shape of a spiral. They start at the terminating plate 10 of the cone surface 2 and terminate at the annular seat 12, so that the seating surface of the contact visible in the figure forms a closed, unslotted ring.

Claims (4)

What is claimed is:
1. A contact for a vacuum switch including a pair of opposed contacts, each comprising a hollow body of revolution having an axis of revolution, said body of revolution having a plurality of slots extending in a spiral with respect to said axis of revolution; a solid annular contact seat at the base of said body of revolution forming a contact surface; and an electrical lead conductor connected to said body of revolution.
2. The contact according to claim 1 were in said hollow body of revolution comprises a hollow cone.
3. The contact according to claim 1 were in said hollow body of revolution comprises a hollow spherical section.
4. A contact according to any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 and further including an insert of a metal selected from group consisting of molybdenum and tungsten at the end of said electrical lead conductor, at the point where it is connected to said hollow body of revolution.
US05/928,689 1976-03-30 1978-07-27 Contact arrangement for vacuum switch Expired - Lifetime US4267416A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE2613567A DE2613567C3 (en) 1976-03-30 1976-03-30 Contact arrangement for vacuum switch
DE2613567 1976-03-30

Related Parent Applications (1)

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US05778266 Continuation 1977-03-16

Publications (1)

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US4267416A true US4267416A (en) 1981-05-12

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US05/928,689 Expired - Lifetime US4267416A (en) 1976-03-30 1978-07-27 Contact arrangement for vacuum switch

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US (1) US4267416A (en)
JP (1) JPS5823690B2 (en)
CH (1) CH607288A5 (en)
DE (1) DE2613567C3 (en)
FR (1) FR2346840A1 (en)
GB (1) GB1517896A (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4547639A (en) * 1980-06-18 1985-10-15 Hitachi, Ltd. Vacuum circuit breaker
DE3701758A1 (en) * 1987-01-22 1988-08-04 Calor Emag Elektrizitaets Ag Contact arrangement for a vacuum switch

Families Citing this family (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5816731B2 (en) * 1977-12-28 1983-04-01 株式会社明電舎 Vacuum shield electrode
JPS5568020A (en) * 1978-11-16 1980-05-22 Meidensha Electric Mfg Co Ltd Electrode for vacuum breaker
DE3112407A1 (en) * 1981-03-28 1982-04-08 Calor-Emag Elektrizitäts-Aktiengesellschaft, 4030 Ratingen Switching contact for vacuum switches
DE3133799A1 (en) * 1981-08-26 1983-03-17 Siemens AG, 1000 Berlin und 8000 München "CONTACT ARRANGEMENT FOR VACUUM SWITCHES"
NL8401005A (en) * 1983-03-31 1984-10-16 Mc Graw Edison Co CONSTRUCTION OF CONTACTS OF A VACUUM CIRCUIT BREAKER.
GB8510441D0 (en) * 1985-04-24 1985-05-30 Vacuum Interrupters Ltd High current switch contacts
DE4119191C2 (en) * 1991-06-11 1997-07-03 Abb Patent Gmbh Contact arrangement for a vacuum interrupter
JP2643036B2 (en) * 1991-06-17 1997-08-20 三菱電機株式会社 Vacuum switch tube
DE102017214805A1 (en) * 2017-08-24 2019-02-28 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Current limit with a vacuum switch

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1095638A (en) * 1965-12-16 1967-12-20 Ass Elect Ind Improvements in or relating to vacuum switch contacts
GB1098862A (en) * 1963-10-09 1968-01-10 Ass Elect Ind Improvements relating to vacuum switch contact assemblies
GB1210600A (en) * 1968-04-26 1970-10-28 Ass Elect Ind Improvements relating to vacuum switch contacts
SU494790A1 (en) * 1973-09-06 1975-12-05 Предприятие П/Я Р-6517 Contact system of vacuum interrupter chamber
US3980850A (en) * 1974-12-19 1976-09-14 Westinghouse Electric Corporation Vacuum interrupter with cup-shaped contact having an inner arc controlling electrode

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5139355B2 (en) * 1971-09-16 1976-10-27

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1098862A (en) * 1963-10-09 1968-01-10 Ass Elect Ind Improvements relating to vacuum switch contact assemblies
GB1095638A (en) * 1965-12-16 1967-12-20 Ass Elect Ind Improvements in or relating to vacuum switch contacts
GB1210600A (en) * 1968-04-26 1970-10-28 Ass Elect Ind Improvements relating to vacuum switch contacts
SU494790A1 (en) * 1973-09-06 1975-12-05 Предприятие П/Я Р-6517 Contact system of vacuum interrupter chamber
US3980850A (en) * 1974-12-19 1976-09-14 Westinghouse Electric Corporation Vacuum interrupter with cup-shaped contact having an inner arc controlling electrode

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4547639A (en) * 1980-06-18 1985-10-15 Hitachi, Ltd. Vacuum circuit breaker
DE3701758A1 (en) * 1987-01-22 1988-08-04 Calor Emag Elektrizitaets Ag Contact arrangement for a vacuum switch

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2346840A1 (en) 1977-10-28
JPS5823690B2 (en) 1983-05-17
GB1517896A (en) 1978-07-19
DE2613567B2 (en) 1979-06-07
DE2613567C3 (en) 1980-02-14
CH607288A5 (en) 1978-11-30
DE2613567A1 (en) 1977-10-13
JPS52118277A (en) 1977-10-04

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